Just returned from the Norwegian Sun and wanted to share a few thoughts before I forgot. I was nervous after reading so many negative reviews but I had a wonderful trip.
Embarking went smooth. We took a city shuttle from the airport for $13.00 per person and it dropped us off right at the cruise terminal. The driver pointed out interesting sites along the way. The line was long to get on the ship but moved very quickly. Our first sea day was okay. DH was a little seasick so we walked around a lot and looked at the ship. The ship was very clean and well kept. They were always working on cleaning or painting throughout the week. On this first sea night was the Formal night. We ate at the East meets West which was awesome. Huge steaks.
In Costa Maya- We did the Bike and Kayak tour thru the ship. We loved it although if you aren't in decent shape you will be tired : ). I was but it was still worth it. You ride your bike through the town of Mahaual. There were lots of chances to take great photos.
Next was Santo Thomas. Please don't let the reviews turn you off of this awesome place. Yes when you arrive you are in a container port with Industrial machines and ships. If you take a tour and get out and see the country you will be rewarded with a very beautiful setting. We did the Horse back riding tour that also gives you access to the resort. We had a great time but I will warn you that the horses do look sickly. DH and I almost backed out of the tour b/c of this. The resort is nice with Hammocks on the beach and the use of several pools with slides for the kids. The food served at the resort is very yummmy.
Belize was the next port. We loved Belize. Just off the tender boat you will see a very touristy area (reminds me of Flordia.) Once you get into the city it is hard not to notice all of the trash in the streets. It is still a neat place. We did the zipline and repelling tour. Also a must. We had every body size and age on our tour and not one of us had any trouble doing this tour. Getting out into the "country" of Belize was awesome. Very beautiful jungle. I will warn you though that it is a 1 1/2 bus ride each way on this tour and the road is not a smooth one by any means.
Cozumel- This stop is also very touristy which suited us just fine. We spent the whole day shopping and drinking $1 beers.
I know this post if all over the place. We loved our trip and will go on NCL again! Our cabin was 7006 on the International Deck. We loved it. Our room stewards were wonderful. Carl and Thomas really know thier job.
We only ordered room service once but it arrived within 15 mins.
We ate at the Buffet for lunch everyday which was fine but it is the same food over and over again.
We ate in both the Seven Seas and 4 seasons both were fine. Overall I would say cruise food is okay. The fact that there is fresh fruit available 24/7 is awesome.
We only saw one show while we were on board it was the Pan show where they do Peter Pan with acrobatics. This was very entertaining. Just don't go looking for Broadway Calibur.
Disembarking was smooth. They give you the option of being first of the ship if you can carry your own luggage thru the terminal. We took this option and we were checking into our hotel by 8.
If anyone has any specific questions please let me know. I know this has been all over the place.
Cat25, thanks for the great update!! I was hoping you would come back and fill us in, since I will be leaving on the same ship in a few weeks! Did you use the excersise facility at all? I was wondering about how well equipped it was or how crowded. Also weight machines. Glad to hear you had a wonderful time. That does take a bit of the anxiety out of the trip since it has been awhile since I sailed NCL.
I did not use the exercise room but did check it out. It's very nice. A lot of people were using it as well as jogging around the deck. I do not think I ever saw it crowded at all. I can't remember what the equipment was aside from the treadmills. Sorry. I do know they had streching classes in there at 7 am every morning. I kept thinking of going but I was to lazy last week.
Bike, kayak, zipline and repelling doesn't sound lazy to me.
That is the thing with the buffet. Same tired old stuff day after day. On RCI however, I could count on my bagel, salami, smoked salmon every day before the sun and before my wife arose. Then breakfast in the dining room. I have to eat something when I get up or my stomach thinks my throat was cut.
Good point Chef Ken! I think the lazy would be not wanting to get up before 7. You are right....as Dustin Hoffman would say in Rain Man........."definately not lazy, definately not. Cat25, did you make it to the chocolate buffet by chance? Was wondering how that was?
Ahhh the Chocolate buffet. Well this was something I really didn't want to miss. They had it at 11 pm in the 4 seasons dining room. Before the doors were even opened the line to get in was so long that I gave up. I did hear other passengers talking the next day saying they were very disappointed. I heard that a lot of the deserts tasted funny. I have to say that most of the deserts I had on board were not the best all though any of the cream cakes were very tasty. I spent most of my time at the ice cream station. It opens at 11 am every day. They also serve yogurt for anyone who would rather have that.
Oh yeah.. they do serve salami and smoked samon every morning at the buffet also. DH and I enjoyed the little buffets outside of the main one buffet. (located in the very back (aft) of the ship. There was never a line as opposed to the garden cafe. Plus then you can enjoy your breakfast outdoors.
I guess you guys are right I wasn't tech. lazy, maybe I was just tired from DH making me do all the active tours.
Ok, now the million dollar question??? Are you planning another cruise? Are you addicted to cruising? Will you try a different cruise line the next time? Of course that last question is assuming you are planning to cruise again.
Yes I am so addicted all ready. I would like to try another cruise line but I really like the freestyle concept so until another line decides to try it I will probably go on NCL again. LOL. I have already started looking at where I go next. Isn't that horrible. I'm only back at work 2 days and already I'm looking for the next vacation.
Nothing horrible at all about that! Work to live don't live to work! Always good to have a goal of another cruise on the horizon. All the cruise lines have there uniqueness for sure. So far, I haven't found a cruise I haven't enjoyed!
All: I was on the February 25th sailing of the Sun and have a couple of comments to make. 1. When I finally received my leather garment bag (not new, but serviceable), it had been destroyed. It had evidently been caught on a conveyor belt, ripping the center handle system almost completely off. One side had been abraided with a lot of heat from the friction and had melted some of the rubber from the belt into some of my clothes. Two new shirts were destroyed. Upon taking photos of the damage and presenting them to the Service Desk, I got some questionable looks and comments that intimated I might have set this up! The lady there wanted me to bring the damaged goods to her. I did and filled out a claim form. The next day, I was told I could have a $50 shipboard credit, but anything else would have to come from Miami IF I wanted to persue it. I have been on 19 cruises (5th on Norwegian) and never experienced anything like this. Has anyone else?
2. The main dining rooms seem to have reduced the quality of the fare. This I was told is due to having a new head chef. One of the highlights of prior Norwegian cruises was the presidential menu, which is now history. Also, the cold fruit-flavored soups that my wife and I were so fond of are no longer ice cream based and much thinner. Entrees now seem to be more on the order of a family restaurant. I believe these changes have been made to make the extra cost options more enticing. Anyone else have other ideas?
Service was pretty good for Freestyle with only one instance of having to ask for the initial bread to be brought to the table.
We did meet some good people and made several new friends. We took a shore excursion in Guatemala that included a 3-1/2 hour boat ride upriver. I was talking with one of the other passengers and discovered that I had gone to grammar school with him! I hadn't seen him in 55 years! That was some reunion.
Sorry about the long post.
Posts: 3 | Location: Central Alabama | Registered: March 17, 2007
Originally posted by Waterboy271: All: I was on the February 25th sailing of the Sun and have a couple of comments to make. 1. When I finally received my leather garment bag (not new, but serviceable), it had been destroyed. It had evidently been caught on a conveyor belt, ripping the center handle system almost completely off. One side had been abraided with a lot of heat from the friction and had melted some of the rubber from the belt into some of my clothes. Two new shirts were destroyed. Upon taking photos of the damage and presenting them to the Service Desk, I got some questionable looks and comments that intimated I might have set this up! The lady there wanted me to bring the damaged goods to her. I did and filled out a claim form. The next day, I was told I could have a $50 shipboard credit, but anything else would have to come from Miami IF I wanted to persue it. I have been on 19 cruises (5th on Norwegian) and never experienced anything like this. Has anyone else? 2. The main dining rooms seem to have reduced the quality of the fare. This I was told is due to having a new head chef. One of the highlights of prior Norwegian cruises was the presidential menu, which is now history. Also, the cold fruit-flavored soups that my wife and I were so fond of are no longer ice cream based and much thinner. Entrees now seem to be more on the order of a family restaurant. I believe these changes have been made to make the extra cost options more enticing. Anyone else have other ideas? 3. Service was pretty good for Freestyle with only one instance of having to ask for the initial bread to be brought to the table. 4. We did meet some good people and made several new friends. We took a shore excursion in Guatemala that included a 3-1/2 hour boat ride upriver. I was talking with one of the other passengers and discovered that I had gone to grammar school with him! I hadn't seen him in 55 years! That was some reunion. Sorry about the long post.
Overall a great cruise review. I'm sorry your luggage got damage. Although I have never experience it, it must have happen before. That's why you'll see a few paragraphs on baggage and valuables in your cruise papers. You have met a major tripping point that most don't do, you reported your damage upon discovery when on board the ship. But when contacting headquarters, make sure you give fair value of your belongings on paper. Be reasonable and patient and you may be lucky enough to get full value for your damaged bags.
Thank you so much for your posting! I, too, have read so much about the N.Sun, and we are heading out in two weeks. For a 1st time cruiser, do you think it is possible to get off of the ship in a timely manner (In the ports) if we have booked some port trips through other operators and not the ship itself? We have the same itinerary as you did...and are trying to picture how it will be to meet Gus in Guatamala or dennis in Belize!
Hi Owen. We will be on the Sun in two weeks as well. From the sounds of it, we should be tendering only in Belize. Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Guatamala look to be docking ports, so you should have no troubles there, just walk off the ship. Get in the tender line as early as possible for Belize, and let them know if you have a tour scheduled. Perhaps they will let you be one of the first off.
Well it's time for my 2 cents on NCL. I thought it was good...not great...would NEVER do NCL again and here's why.
I go on cruises to try different foods. Thursday night menu in the dining room: Turkey, Beef Stroganoff, Baked Flounder. Sounds like a normal week at my place. Where's the new and exotic foods? Portions were very small. Yes, Cat, East/West IS very good...for $45 more!!
Drink prices are very high and so are photos. Much higher than Carnival. The shows were mediocre at best. They were performed well..but the shows themselves were weak. QUE NOCHE is an hour of latin rhythms...without ONE Santana song or ONE MSM song. In fact in 65 minutes, there was only one song I ever heard before. The last morning my wife ordered a banana in the dining room and we were informed they were out of bananas. HOW DOES A CRUISE BOAT RUN OUT OF ANYTHING????
I was in the talent show. They had their rehearsal at 12:30 Saturday afternoon...a little odd...why rehearse in the middle of lunch? So I went to the buffet for lunch at 11:30. Guess what...no buffet. It doesn't open until 12. So my choice was hamburgers or hot dogs. Again lets compare to Carnival. They open for breakfast at 6. At about 10:30 they start transitioning to lunch. They certainly don't lower the drapes and close!!
And a word or 2 about freestyle dining. I LIKE having the same waiter every night. They get to know what you like and what you don't. Who wants coffee, who wants tea, etc. With free style dining, you get a different waiter every night.
Cat trust me...they are good, but they certainly aren't great. I have other examples too. Ask me about disembarking...and the photo shop.
Alex, Every time you post this you keep losing credibility. Why don't you stop and save what is left of your dignity? NCL fans don't care about this and repeating it over and over doesn't state your case any better. Give it a rest, please.
